Expanding the temperature range of stable aqueous batteries: strategies, mechanisms and perspectives

Abstract

Aqueous batteries (ABs) based on water-containing electrolytes are intrinsically safe and serve as promising candidates for the grid-scale energy storage and power supplies of wearable electronics. The severe temperature fluctuations due to fickle weather conditions across the world worsen the parasitic reactions during the electrochemical reactions, which limits the practical application scenarios of the aqueous batteries. Focusing on the electrolyte and electrode optimizations, substantial progress has been achieved in enhancing the temperature adaptability of the aqueous batteries with various charge carriers by considering the kinetic and thermodynamic processes during the electrochemical reactions. Here in this review, we present a comprehensive discussion of the recently reported temperature-dependent electrochemical performance of aqueous batteries by combining experimental and theoretical results. The necessity to develop the aqueous batteries with superior temperature adaptability is firstly emphasized. The experimental approaches and corresponding physicochemical principles are summarized and classified. Then, recent progress in widening the temperature range for the stable operation of the aqueous batteries via electrolyte and electrode engineering is discussed in detail. Last but not least, we provide some perspectives on this important and prospering field from our point of view.